March 2023

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: February 28, 2023 – March 7, 2023

Fraud / Counterfeit

February 28, 2023 (Bloomfield Avenue): An employee of Organic Sun Market reported that an unknown male entered the store and purchased food with a counterfeit $100.00 bill. He was issued $86.00 in change before leaving. The counterfeit bill was not discovered until after the fact. The suspect was described as a black male, 5'10 to 6'0 tall, medium build, wearing a grey shirt, grey jeans, black jacket and grey cap. He appeared to be in his mid to late 40's and clean shaven.

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 3, 2023 (Prospect Avenue): The resident reported that her 2020 Audi Q7 was stolen from her driveway overnight. The victim’s key fob and purse had accidentally been left in the vehicle. The suspects used a credit card to make an unauthorized purchase at 3:43 AM at a Sunoco Station in Newark.

March 4, 2023 (Orange Road): The victim reported that his 2018 Porsche Macan was entered between noon and 6:00 PM. The center console was rummaged through and the contents were removed. It appeared that the suspect(s) attempted to steal the car due to the fact that the gear shift was in drive, the ignition key port was not in the off position, and emergency brake was engaged.

March 6, 2023 (Gordonhurst Avenue): The victim reported that she was assisting her mother into her residence and left her 2022 Porsche Macan on the street. She was inside of the residence for a few minutes and observed a black BMW SUV with Florida registration pull up to her vehicle. The BMW was occupied by four individuals. The driver was described as a black male, the passenger was a black female. Two black males exited from the rear of the BMW and entered her vehicle. The victim ran out yelling and the suspects returned to the BMW and fled east on Gordonhurst Avenue at a high rate of speed. A witness in the area observed the vehicle fleeing and stated that the occupants were throwing items out of the car. Officers collected the items and determined later that they were proceeds from a motor vehicle burglary that occurred in Bloomfield.

March 7, 2023 (Sutherland Road): The resident reported that his 2018 Audi S5 was stolen overnight. The keys to the vehicle were inside the foyer area of the backdoor on a dish which was in plain view from the rear door's glass window panes. The unknown suspect smashed the bottom left glass pane and unlocked the door before grabbing the key and exiting the residence and leaving the area with the vehicle in an unknown direction.

Burglary / Theft

March 5, 2023 (Maple Avenue): The resident reported that he woke up during the night and observed the door to his detached garage was open. He observed a tall male exit the garage and jump over the fence into a rear yard on Mission Street. He stated that he also observed a dark blue or black small SUV in the driveway, which ultimately fled in an unknown direction. The only thing he reported missing was a chainsaw valued at $300.00.

March 5, 2023 (Pine Street): The complainant reported that a package was stolen from the foyer area of her apartment building. She received a notification that her Sperry shoes had been delivered. She immediately went downstairs and before she got there, the package was gone.
The shoes were valued at $117.00.

Arrests

March 2, 2023 (Bloomfield Avenue): A 42-year-old male from Newark was charged with Assault after officers observed him strike an unsuspecting pedestrian on Bloomfield Avenue.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 7, 2023 – March 14, 2023

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 7, 2023 (Maple Avenue): The super for an apartment complex on Maple Avenue reported that he was working in the driveway of the complex and observed an unknown male approach one of the resident’s vehicles, enter it, and sit in the driver’s seat. Knowing the individual was not the owner, he approached the male and told him he was calling the police. The suspect replied, “You don’t need to do that big man” before running through the rear yards towards Lexington Avenue. The owner of the vehicle responded and stated that the suspect did not have the opportunity to steal anything.

March 8, 2023 (Homewood Way): Officers on patrol came across an unoccupied 2006 Ford E350 Van parked on Homewood Way. A check of the registration came back to a different vehicle. A check of the VIN number revealed that the van was reported stolen out of Paterson, NJ. The vehicle was impounded and turned over to Paterson, PD.

Burglary / Theft

March 7, 2023 (North Fullerton Avenue): The resident reported that she was working from home and received a notification that a package that she was expecting was being delivered. Moments later, she observed a newer model Mercedes Benz stop in front of her house and one occupant described as a black female in her late forties, wearing a mask and head wrap, run towards her front porch.

The victim reported that she walked out of her residence to confront the suspect but was too late. The suspect entered the Mercedes with the victim’s packages and fled the scene.

March 11, 2023 (Bloomfield Avenue): The victim reported that his apartment was burglarized between 3:00 PM and 11:00 PM. The suspects gained entry by removing a small glass window pane by the front door to access the building. Once inside, they forced the apartment door open. Reported missing at this time is an envelope containing a few hundred dollars in cash.

Suspicious Incident

March 9, 2023 (Valley Road): A 13-year-old female reported to her school that while waiting for her school bus in the morning, a red Honda pulled up alongside of her. The male driver reportedly rolled down the passenger side window and showed her his phone. Google translate was open on the phone and it read, "Do you want me to drive you to where you are going so you don't have to

wait in the cold". She replied, "No thank you" and the male pulled away south on Valley Road. The juvenile described the driver as a Hispanic male is his thirties, possibly wearing a red shirt and jeans. The vehicle was described as a red Honda, possibly a four door, with tan color interior.

Strong Armed Robbery

March 11, 2023 (Church Street): Officers responded to the area of Fresco Restaurant on a report of three males who stole keys from the valet attendant. The victim reported that he observed three males wearing black hooded sweatshirts with black face masks approach the valet key box. The three individuals then attempted to take keys from the key box. The victim confronted the individuals in an attempt to stop them. The three suspects then pushed the victim to the ground and began to flee down Church Street towards Bloomfield Avenue with multiple sets of vehicle keys. The suspects were described as three black males and were last seen running towards the North Willow Parking Deck. No vehicles were stolen as a result of the incident.

Arrests

March 9, 2023 (Claremont Avenue): Officers responded to the CVS on Claremont Avenue on a report of a shoplifting in progress. The employees reported that two white males entered the store together and began filling shopping carts and duffel bags with detergent and hygiene products. One suspect fled prior to police arrival. The second suspect, a 33-year-old male from Nutley, NJ was apprehended inside the store by officers. The suspect who fled was located on Pine Street. This male, a 34-year-old from Hackensack, had the stolen proceeds on him. The total amount stolen was approximately $656.00 in merchandise. Both parties were charged with Shoplifting.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 14, 2023 – March 21, 2023

Theft

March 14, 2023 (Grove Street): The manager at Applegate Farms reported that 120 milk crates were stolen from the property. The suspect was a customer who made a purchase with cash and was driving a silver Honda minivan. After making the purchase, he was seen pulling up to the milk crates at the rear of the property and removes the crates. He was described as a Hispanic or Arabic male, 20-30 years in age, with a thin build and a beard. The suspect was wearing blue jeans, a black hooded sweatshirt and gray hat.

March 14, 2023 (Yale Terrace): The resident reported that a package containing energy efficient home appliances was stolen from his porch. Surveillance footage shows a newer model red Honda CRV pull in front of the residence. The suspect was described as a light skinned Hispanic male in his late teens or early twenties, with a thin/athletic build wearing a New York Yankees baseball hat, black Nike hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, and black/gray sneakers. The suspect takes the package, returns to the vehicle, and flees east on Yale Terrace.

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 15, 2023 (Willowmere Avenue): The resident reported that his 2017 Grey Mazda X5 was stolen from in front of his residence between 7:15 PM and 10:15 PM. The key fob was reportedly left inside the vehicle.

Burglary / Attempted Burglary

March 19, 2023 (Upper Mountain Avenue): At 3:10 AM, the resident reported unknown individuals on his property. The residents were not home but received an alert on their phone from their surveillance system. Upon checking the video, they observed two suspects wearing dark clothing and ski masks walk up their driveway and peer into the windows of a white Porsche parked in the driveway. A second video showed one individual walk through the back patio and attempt to open the back patio sliding door which was unsuccessful. Entry was not successful.

March 19, 2023 (Valley Road): At 3:34 AM, the residents reported a burglary to their residence. The resident reported that he was woken by his alarm system. As he was investigating, he heard the floorboards “creaking” and people talking. When he announced himself, he heard the suspects fleeing from his home. Surveillance footage showed the suspects make entry into an unlocked side door. The suspects fled the residence with the homeowner’s purse. While on scene, the victim reported that someone was attempting to use her credit cards in Newark, NJ. The suspects matched the clothing description of the suspects of the attempted burglary on Upper Mountain Avenue.

Montclair Police Department

Police Blotter: March 21, 2023 – March 28, 2023

Motor Vehicle Crime

March 21, 2023 (Gray Street): The resident reported that his Catalytic Converter was stolen off of his 2004 Honda CRV. The vehicle was parked in his driveway at the time of the incident.
Surveillance shows an unknown white vehicle pull in front of his residence at 4:30 AM and pull away several minutes later.

March 22, 2023 (Church Street): The complainant reported that his company vehicle was stolen from a Church Street parking lot. The theft occurred between 5:00 PM the previous day and 6:15 AM when it was discovered missing. The complainant reported that the van had GPS and reported that the van was stationary in Newark, NJ. Newark PD was contacted and reported recovering the vehicle at Grand Avenue and Arsdale Avenue within their jurisdiction. No arrests were made.

March 22, 2023 (Church Street): The victim reported that he parked his 2019 Range Rover on Church Street and entered a store. When he returned ten minutes later, he discovered his vehicle was gone. Surveillance video in the area shows one suspect enter the vehicle through the driver’s front door and drive off. The suspect drives the car west on Church Street. The suspect is described as having a thin build, approximately 5'7" in height, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, grey pants and black sneakers. The race and sex of the suspect could not be determined. The vehicle was recovered later in the day in Westchester County, NY.

March 27, 2023 (Walnut Street): The resident reported that his 2016 Jeep Patriot was stolen from his driveway during the overnight hours. The timeframe of the theft was reported to be between 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM.

Theft

March 26, 2023 (Park Street): The complainant reported that his Air Buds, valued at approximately $200.00, were stolen from an unlocked locker at the YMCA. After the theft, the complainant reported that he was tracking them to an address on Cleveland Street in Orange, NJ.

Dispute

March 27, 2023 (Glenridge Avenue): The complainant reported that he observed an unknown vehicle parked along the side of his residence. A male described as wearing a grey puffy jacket and black shorts stepped out of the vehicle and walked onto the resident’s property and began urinating on his lawn. The complainant reported that he attempted to use his cell phone to take a picture of the male and the vehicle he was using. The suspect noticed the complainant taking a picture and slapped the phone out his hand and attempted to punch the complainant but missed. The suspect then entered his vehicle, described as a 2004 GMC Envoy, and drove away.